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OGGN demands Gov’t. represent Guyanese over Exxon’s interest
Kaieteur News – An overseas based Guyanese group, Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN) recently launched its new campaign calling on government to respect the rule of law and Guyanese rather than the interest of American oil giant, ExxonMobil.
In a brief statement to the press yesterday, the advocacy group said it attended a Guyanese senior citizens event at Smokey Park in Richmond Hill, New York over the weekend where it launched its new banner demanding respect for the rule of law. The group said New York State Senator, Joseph Addabbo Jnr. was in attendance of the event.
OGGN members have been protesting on the streets of the United States for ExxonMobil to provide full liability coverage in the event of an oil spill in Guyana.
Only recently it was reported that OGGN staged a protest in New York, demanding that the American oil company not only provides said guarantee but pays taxes on profit oil.
Under the 2016 PSA, neither Exxon nor its affiliates pay taxes in Guyana. In fact, Guyana has agreed to, under the taxation provisions, to pay ExxonMobil’s share of Corporation and Income Tax. As such, it would mean that Guyana foregoes each year, billions of US dollars. On top of this, documentation to this effect is then provided to the US based company allowing it to not have to pay any taxes in its home country for its earnings overseas.
OGGN representatives launched its new campaign for government to respect the rule of law and Guyanese rather than the interest of American oil giant, ExxonMobil
Meanwhile, two Guyanese recently took the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to Court for failing to uphold the legislation. Only in May High Court Judge, Justice Sandil Kissoon ruled that the regulator acted illegally by failing to suspend/cancel Liza 1 Permit in view of Exxon’s 11 months of non-compliance on insurance. The ruling has been appealed and is ongoing.
There are several other matters before the Court in which citizens argue the degradation of the rule of law. As such, the protest action in New York is expected to continue throughout the summer.
Renowned Guyanese scholars, Alfred Bhulai, Dr. Janette Bulkan and Darsh Khusial are a few of the Directors of OGGN. Meanwhile, a few other members of the advocacy group include Dr. Jerry Jailall, Charles Sugrim, Professor Kenrick Hunte, Tarron Khemraj and Sase Singh. OGGN was launched in 2017 and is a registered non-profit organization in New York City, United States. The body was played a vital role in holding government to account, especially in the management of its natural resources.
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